The grinding world of politics from the Los Angeles Daily News

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Shop till you, um, drop?

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Police Chief William Bratton spoke to a packed press conference Thursday, downplaying reports of possible terrorist attacks on Los Angeles shopping malls. The information wasn’t credible and there was a low-level threat, if any.

So with no real danger, the mayor urged Angelenos to get back out there and do what we do best. Hit the mall and shop! Great message, but perhaps not the best choice of words. Here’s what he said:

Al-Qaeda has made this threat with this intent of disrupting our way of life and damaging our local economy during the holiday season. We have a responsibility to make sure they fail, he said.
“I want people to know that they can shop in this city till they drop” (long, awkward pause) “From shopping.”